Gino Sarfatti

(1912 - 1984)

Sarfatti studies aerospace engineering at the University of Genoa. His financial situation forces him to quit studying and work as a salesman for glassware in Milan. From 1939 his focus is the field of lighting technology and he founds Arteluce, which quickly becomes the indicator of development in modern design in the field of lighting technology in Italy and abroad. The industrial designer is considered one of the most important designers of lighting and lamps in the 20th century.

In his thirty year career Gino Sarfatti designs and manufactures more than 400 lights, with persistent commitment to innovative solutions in terms of shapes, materials, production technologies, light sources, technical lighting effects and design characteristics. He uses materials unusual for lamps at that time. In 1951 he uses plexiglass and early on works with halogen lamps. His designs ejoy supraregional recognition and gain numerous awards, including the Compasso d'Oro in 1954 and 1955 and the certificate of honour of the Milan Triennale.

Young Italian designers such as Franco Albini, Gianfranco Frattini, Vittoriano Vigano and Marco Zanuso work for his company. Sarfatti's ceiling lamp '1063' (1954) is included into the MoMA collection.